Scoring at the Movies

This episode is a change of pace because we're discussing the venerable art of arm wrestling for the first time. Golden Arm is lighthearted fun that emulates Kingpin's zany road trip while also taking some plot elements from The Karate Kid. A jacked-up Mary Holland (the scene-stealing sister in Happiest Season), Betsy Sodaro and the funny supporting cast certainly commit to this nutty material. Are they doing a lot of improv? It feels like it. And they're good at it.   Director Maureen Bharoocha finds the right tone in her debut and she doesn't let Golden Arm overstay its welcome. So don't be freaked out about having to lock up in an angry handshake. Celebrate your victories, get over your fear of a powerful rival, begin a romance with a sexy guy (or girl) and fire up our conversation about ladies locking palms.   If you care to tweet us, we are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies. As for our email address, that's scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

Our "Summer Of Quaid" continues, this time with Dennis playing real-life Tampa Bay relief pitcher Jim Morris in The Rookie.   John Lee Hancock has directed many biopics and The Rookie is perhaps his most inspirational.  It's certainly trying to be. Still, the movie just isn't an *ahem​* home run. Disney was in the middle of a successful run of films just like this , but we felt that--for all of The Rookie's merits---the Mouse House simply did it better with Miracle, Glory Road and even Invincible. Like those, this is a story about an underdog who wants to do the impossible...and we've seen that story many times before (and those other ones weren't so mopey). Hancock has Quaid playing Morris as a sad-sack 38-year-old with no confidence, even though he was able to throw a baseball harder than almost anyone else in the world. Where's the joy? Anyway, it's a well-made baseball movie and at least that's right up our alley.   So fire up our talk about a popular version of "same old/same old" because it's your turn, Coach.   We're always ready to hear what you think on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or via email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

It's July, so it's time to talk about the Tour De France. This is the first cycling movie we've ever covered, but it's not the first episode we've ever done that gets into "toxic nostalgia".   We don't think Breaking Away has aged all that well, even though it was beloved in 1979 and has remained that way with most critics & fans since. Paul Dooley (who is otherwise one of the best characters in the movie) throws around casual bigotry in a way that was probably a lot funnier 4 decades ago. For a movie known for its relatability, Breaking Away just wasn't terribly relatable to us. And it's yet another sports comedy from the '70s that didn't make us laugh very much. Peter Yates knows how to shoot action though and his 4 main characters (the ultra-buff Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley and Dennis Christopher in the leading role) have chemistry.   Whether or not you liked this flick more than we did, take a dip in your personal quarry and then lounge on a rock with your earbuds in as we (mostly) naysay a bike classic.   We're eager to hear from you on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or by email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

Hustle has only been out for a few weeks, but the vast majority of opinions seem to be that this is one of the best things Adam Sandler has ever done. We're with the majority.   It's not perfect and it riffs on many movies that came before it, but Jeremiah Zagar's 2nd film has a big heart, dynamic basketball action and features terrific performances by Juancho Hernangomez and the Sand Man. Their chemistry makes the movie work, although the husband-wife glue between Sandler and Queen Latifah is key too. Okay, yeah, Zagar wastes the great Robert Duvall. Ben Foster doesn't get much to do either, but any movie that showcases so many real-life b-ball stars and pays off this many set-ups will always get a rave from us.   So don't drive while distracted (or while drunk), but trash-talk your sensitive opponent to throw him off his game and for Bob's sake never back down as we point out the many upsides of Hustle.   We can be tweeted (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) about the fact that the Golden State Warriors DID win another NBA championship or email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) about that or anything else sports-related

The Ernie Davis Story is another sports biopic that's about the human struggle just as much as it is a film about college football. Davis had to regularly endure racism throughout his brief life, although there was a measure of vindication when he became the first black man to win the Heisman Trophy.   Rob Brown is as solid as an Orange rock playing the tough-but-saintly Ernie. Dennis Quaid is pretty good as the smart, but so-accepting veteran coach who learns a thing or two about what's right and what's really wrong.   Gary Fleder's picture has a weird title though because the movie is certainly not well-paced and they rarely ever actually call Davis "The Express". In fact, we found it to be an inconsistently structured film from start to finish. Plenty of scenes confused us and some set-ups are just not paid off. It IS fair to say though that Davis was worthy of being featured in a film. Now do one about Jim Brown!   So suit up and let yourself be honoured by an adoring crowd as we articulate our feelings about The Express.   Don't be shy. Tweet us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

The gentlemen driving in the Indianapolis 500 will be starting their engines on May 29th, so we decided to gear up for that by yapping about a car racing movie.   Ron Howard's Rush is one of the most-underrated flicks he's directed in the past 20 years, although almost nobody paid to see it. Perhaps the attendance wasn't very good because the film has a well-earned R rating... and that adult material makes it a better flick. Howard and his writer Peter Morgan are doing what they both do so often by making a biopic, and a well-cast one at that.   Chris Hemsworth and the outstanding Daniel Bruhl look a lot like the actual James Hunt and Niki Lauda, but they also excellently embody the F1 racers. But do you root for the handsome Brit who goofs off all the time or the machine-like Austrian who, despite being the best driver, eventually finds himself in the role of underdog? It's a compelling rivalry.   So climb out of your hospital bed to get back behind the wheel and risk a fiery death (at least 20% of the time), but also be wise enough to know when it's time to pit and quit as we discuss Rush.   Our Twitter addresses are @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies and our email is scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

We weren't completely in sync about Bruised, although we agreed Halle Berry's gritty directorial debut has very few dashes of originality. The story and the action rips off several other sports movies, including many parts throughout the entire Rocky franchise. Chris didn't love Halle Berry's performance as an MMA fighter either or her "one lousy struggle after another" life outside the octagon. She shouldn't need to face THIS many obstacles to get us on her side. There's just too much jammed into this underwhelming screenplay. Most of the performances are authentic though, especially Sheila Atim as Berry's MMA trainer. Their chemistry has some sizzle, even if we didn't really buy their character's motivations in that, shall we say, scorable scene.   So fill your spray bottle with spirits and try to click with your kid who can't bring himself to speak to you as we try to figure out what's going on in Bruised.   We can be tweeted (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and we accept your emails (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

We've only covered horse racing on this channel once before, which was when we jawed about Seabiscuit several years ago. That movie is more famous and was more successful, partly because it beat Randall Wallace's biopic to the starting gate by 7 years.   In Secretariat, Diane Lane and John Malkovich make a fine owner/trainer team, but good performances don't offset the fact that there's nothing really at stake in this film. This record-setting horse and these silver-spoon people were not underdogs. They were going to be fine no matter what happened on the race track. To compensate, Wallace pumps in lots of made-up (or at least exaggerated) drama. On the bright side, the picture is entertaining and well-made. So mind-meld with your lady friend before easily winning the Triple Crown, but then have some fun breeding excessively as we break down the happenings in Secretariat.   Don't worry if you get covered in mud while you tweet us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or while sending us an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

Put on your uniform, control your temper and don't swear around your adopted kid because---as Paul Douglas learned in 1951---there are Angels In The Outfield.   This is the oldest movie we've ever covered, it's also our first black-and-white film and it has to be the most religious. Then again, who CAN'T relate to hearing a heavenly voice and then taking advantage of divine assistance so they can win baseball games? It's a Pittsburgh miracle!   Speaking of fantasy, both versions of Miracle On 34th Street cropped up a lot because there are many comparisons, particularly in the "courtroom" scene. We've got quite a bit to say about Clarence Brown's pseudo-classic that inspired Disney's goofy 1994 remake, so pour a gallon of ketchup on your steak, begin an improbable romance with Janet Leigh and turn yourself into a better person so an orphan will love you as we yap about Angels & Pirates.   You can contact us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or you can email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

To celebrate our 100th episode, we decided to go back to the beginning. The Mighty Ducks was the subject of our very first podcast and it was passably entertaining, so surely this sequel could hit some of the same heights, right? Well, no.   This is pretty much the same movie all over again, only far worse. The emotion in the Gordon/Charlie relationship is just not there and all the attempts at comedy are dreadful failures. As for the story, the Ducks...Team USA...whatever travel to Los Angeles for the Goodwill Games and run up against the powerful Iceland "kids". Will our overdogs (or overducks) overcome? Will they?! When you have a secret weapon like the knucklepuck and a bunch of wacky new recruits for Emilio Estevez to coach, it's a foregone conclusion. So miss important commitments while you rollerblade forlornly on the boardwalk, but be sure to stick our talk about D2 in your earbuds as you skate around and contemplate the meaning of your life.   You can tweet us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies). You can email us too (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com).

King Richard is the timeliest movie we've ever covered because it was released just 4 months ago (not 3, as we said in the podcast) and it's up for a slew of Academy Awards on March 27th. Will Smith will likely win an Oscar for Best Actor and he clearly loved telling this story, but director Reinaldo Marcus Green's movie is just "The Richard Williams Experience". A biopic about Venus & Serena Williams still needs to be made because this isn't it. On the very bright side, Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton play the tennis phenoms in their preteen days and they're quite good in the film, as is Aunjanue Ellis as their mother, although the girls & their 3 half-sisters also have to play it like they're the beatific Von Trapp kids no matter the obstacle. Is that real? When you're this competitive and this driven to be the best? When you aren't rich and you aren't white, but you're trying to break into an elitist, white sport? When you have a "tennis dad" who's demanding and borderline abusive? We dig into all that. In any case, you too can be a soothsayer about the remarkable success of your kids, but make those pre-birth predictions while hearing us volley back and forth about King Richard.   If you thought we were way off the mark or if you thought we nailed it, drop us a line on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and/or email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

We've covered them out of order, but Rocky III represents our 4th time reviewing an entry in the Balboa boxing saga.   This 3rd one is a lot of fun, but it's packed with flaws we couldn't help nitpicking. One big problem is that, despite the financial success and the movie's lasting fame, this one (and IV) has Sylvester Stallone at his least-interesting. The guilt-ridden champ has become corporate, well-dressed and even dull compared to the lovable underdog who had an original way of stringing words together in the 1st two films (and, interestingly enough, also in later Rockys). Talia Shire, Burt Young, Burgess Meredith & Carl Weathers are back once again to love and support Sly, but Mr. T was of course the breakthrough newcomer who's too busy being angry to feel pity for fools.   So don't let your Stallion self get all civilized. Just fire up Eye Of The Tiger on your device, somehow beat your more-talented trainer in a footrace on the beach and then repeatedly punch a hard-punching battler in the face while we gab about Rocky III.   You can find us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and you can also email us (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com) or find all our episodes on our website (scoringatthemovies@podbean.com).

Since the 2022 Winter Olympic Games are winding down, we decided to talk about Eddie The Eagle.   Taron Egerton & Hugh Jackman make for a likable combo in this ski-jumping biopic. They and the other actors are responsible for why the movie is even as good as it is. We've seen this paint-by-numbers story so many times before. Cool Runnings is a good comparison. Ironically, both films are based on true stories that actually happened at the same Winter Olympics in Calgary. These are inspirational stories of determined underdogs who have more far more passion than talent. Their enthusiasm is infectious, but Dexter Fletcher's movie also has a small sense of Rudy-esque entitlement.   Perhaps poetically, in an Eddie The Eagle touch, we came up short of Chris' goal to make this a 61-minute episode. So throw on a winter jacket, put away your whiskey flask and pour a tall glass of milk as we show you our moderate Olympic spirit.   If you like to send messages to people on Twitter, look for us (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or email us at scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

Oh, what could have been. George Clooney's football flick had the potential to be an excellent homage to an old-timey rat-a-tat rom-com. However, just like so many comedies we've covered over the years, Leatherheads is muddled, has tonal problems and, worst of all, isn't particularly funny.   What's really lacking is a script that's worthy of the cast and the talented pros behind the camera. We also wondered if Renee Zellweger was up to the challenge of coyly bantering with her co-stars. Also, couldn't Clooney have found a better way to use John Krasinski's charm?   The production design is outstanding though and we always enjoy George being his movie-star self, so there are definitely things to admire. Anyway, America needs its (phony) heroes, so if you've pulled a Homer, then cover it up as you listen to us poke a few pigs in our Leatherheads chat.   We can be approached on Twitter (amoviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and an email is always welcomed (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

Will Ferrell starred in a sports movie for 4 years in a row in the mid-2000s, but this is the only time he seems like he was desperate to make us laugh. Even in some of his zanier non-sports projects, it didn't usually feel like he was straining this hard. Being saddled with a flimsy co-star like Jon Heder doesn't help, but the jokes just don't work as well as they do in Talladega Nights or even Semi-Pro.   Blades Of Glory is more ridiculous than it is funny and it doesn't feel like the novice writers & directors fully committed to the ludicrous stuff. If you're going to make a movie about gay panic, then just let the two goofy guys take things to their logical conclusion and have them, well, get it on already! As for the figure skating, it isn't well-depicted, but the F/X-laden skating scenes also aren't as funny as the filmmakers think they are.   Okay, we obviously didn't love Blades Of Glory, but we had a pretty good time talking about it. So put on that flashy costume and learn to love the man-child who was once your enemy because our podcast about the World Wintersport Games (DON'T SAY OLYMPICS!) awaits you.   You can say some words to us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and you can always email us (scoringatthemovies.gmail.com)

This is the 5th time we've covered a Kevin Costner film, so that makes him the undisputed champion of this channel. Unlike in Tin Cup though, he's not the one playing the sport.   As the high school coach of a track & field team in McFarland (and if you're not Canadian, you can add "U.S.A." to that title), Costner is the older mentor in a movie filled with young Hispanic characters. It's a likable film, but McFarland is similar to many other Disney movies... and it isn't always a favourable comparison.   While Niki Caro does a lovely job of filming her diverse cast in sun-bleached California, the story she's telling is a little cliche. Sometimes, it's a lot cliche. Still, kudos to the director and her writers for addressing those lame "immigrants took our jobs!" complaints by showing how these produce-pickers work harder every day than most of us ever have or ever will.   So find your pace, Blanco, and overlook the second-act flaws in this gentle movie about family, friendship and cross-country running.   We would love for you to say ola on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or via an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

Our final episode of 2021 is one of the best Bond movies of all time.    Casino Royale doesn't rely on gadgets or corny humour. Instead, it's slick, smart, modern and the action sequences are exciting, especially during the parkour chase early on. The casting of Daniel Craig surprised many naysayers, but he was always a great fit for a new 007. Outside of Connery, he's been as good as Bond gets. Mads Mikkelsen is also terrific as the poker-playing villain who likes to torture super-spies below the belt and Eva Green is simply one of the greatest Bond girls ever, especially when you think about the secret her complex character is hiding. As a bonus, Professor Chris takes all of us to poker school as he breaks down the Texas Hold 'Em scenes. The card games are fun, but they're often a bit laughable.   So avoid crashing your cool sports car and REALLY avoid falling in love with the wrong woman. Just wrap a few Christmas gifts and enjoy a martini or two while our chat about Casino Royale keeps you company.   We can be reached with something called a tweet (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and you can certainly email us too (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

The Bad News Bears might not have been the original story of a surly old man coaching plucky underdogs who bond as they improve, but it at least nailed the concept. It also seems to have created a template that's been emulated on a regular basis ever since. But is Michael Ritchie's crass '70s baseball classic actually funny? Well, not so much. The anti-everybody rants Tanner often spews out might have been hilarious to packed houses 45 years ago, but they're just cringey these days. The baseball is pretty good though and the movie DOES work quite well in the sincere dramatic scenes between Walter Matthau & Tatum O'Neal.    So don't climb a tree in shame. Just recruit a couple of superstars and keep drinking a variety of beers until you pass out on the grass as we discuss the sandlot flick about Bad News Buttermaker and his Bears.   We can be contacted on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) and also via email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)

If you've always hoped to see a combination of Shia LaBeouf and backyard wrestling with a Huckleberry Finn framework, The Peanut Butter Falcon is your answer. This debut by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz (who both wrote and directed) has such a huge heart. Their film is compassionate and loves all its quirky characters, including real-life wrestlers Jake Roberts and Mick Foley. As far as the leading characters go, Dakota Johnson is warm and charming in one of her best performances, but it's the chemistry between LaBeouf and newcomer Zack Gottsagen that makes the movie work.  Okay, so what about that ending? Is it real? Is it fantasy? Something else? We discuss. So run away from retribution, launch a raft, eat some peanut butter and practice your wrestling moves as you listen to us heap praise on this delightful indie hit.   If you tend to tweet, look for us @moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies. As for email, you can contact us at scoringatthemovies@gmail.com

Like so many movies last year, The Way Back was hurt badly by the pandemic after theatres were shut down. We recommend you rent or stream Ben Affleck's high-school basketball picture though because it's one of the best films we've talked about all year.   The subject matter of alcohol abuse hits very close to home for Affleck, of course, but Gavin O'Connor's direction finds all kinds of effective ways to carefully ladle out information about why this damaged coach is the way he is. There are cliches in The Way Back, but without getting maudlin, O'Connor makes it heartbreakingly real and he even pays off his set-ups better than MANY movies we've covered.   So abide at least half of the dress code, but for the love of your b-balling boys try harder to curb your swearing as we unfurl our gab on this Veterans/Remembrance Day.   Discover us on Twitter (@moviefiend51 and @scoringatmovies) or buzz us with an email (scoringatthemovies@gmail.com)